Yeah, most likely... Zhang had that sneaky southpaw right hook going for him, something that Hrgovic has always struggled with in the past. A few of his losses in the amateurs were to southpaws like Nistor and Cammarelle. Makhmudov is pretty basic by the numbers guy and clearly if you can tag him with something that gets his attention, it makes him ultra apprehensive to throw. It makes him think, which probably doesn't come all that easily to him. So if Hrgovic is cautious early, establish his jab, keep him at range, he can pick him apart and stop him late.
I'd favour Hrgovic over Mak even after his poor showing against Zhang. Mak is far too easy to hit, especially with right hands and that's Hrgovic's bread a butter. He'd tee off on Mak's chin all fight long. Both fight in a similar way in that they both try to use their lead hand to set up the right hand, often by framing and manhandling with the lead hand. But Hrgovic has a jab which Mak lacks, Hrgovic moves better, fights better on the back foot because of that and I just think is a slightly better more refined version of Mak. It would be a good fight but I could see Hrgovic breaking him down and stopping him in the 2nd half.
Zhang is a more skilled boxer than Mak and Hrgovis hung in there albeit in a losing effort (judges robbed Zhang). 60/40 Hrgovic.
Nah, but it was close. It was the last hurrah from Takam and he wanted to - literally - go out swinging.
A well-prepared and motivated Hrgović would outclass Makhmudov (let's say Makhmudov is a belt holder).
